It is better to have a couple in good areas (not fancy, just good family areas) than a bunch in areas that are rougher. 

Lots of growth but cash flow is a little weak after the first couple years you buy properties.

Is your highest priority immediate cash flow or would you rather have an investment that may give you a greater return but it may take a couple of years?

For instance in the real world.. i bought 12 brand new constructions back in the Katrina days .. this was in the top county in Mississippi they ranged 150k to 225k each..

I have a young married couple who is looking to get their first apartment together to move out of their parents house.

Let's say you are a brand new investor.

Set the wayback machine a couple of years ago and that was pretty acheivable.

.- Payments to investors are automated, so rental income is distributed directly without much hassle.What I found interesting is that this solves a couple of common issues:- Property owners can raise cash (for renovations as an example, or any other need) without giving up control of their property.- Investors get access to real estate cash flow with lower costs and no landlord responsibilities.- The whole process is simplified—no co-ownership legal headaches.I’m curious about the pros and cons of something like this.

Bookkeepers are fairly cheap, even good ones and should be able to setup for 2 units in a couple/few hours.  

Invest with syndicators who have a narrow niche and proven track record.For example, if an operator has done 5 or 6 workforce housing value add deals in Dallas, and they are offering a similar deal now, that would be encouraging.if however, their current deal was a brand new luxury Class A building in Charlotte and this was their first acquisition in Charlotte and their first class A deal, as an LP I would pass.Find operators who do one thing and kill it in that space.Find operators who own or have gone full cycle with similar assets in the same market.For example, my firm, Spark Investment Group has a very narrow niche - sub 100 unit MF or BTR in Greenville SC.